The boss of a lorry firm operating in Avonmouth has been banned for three years after an investigation found drivers were behind the wheel for as much as 17 hours in just one day.

The industry regulator found the haulage firm in Avonmouth were guilty of ‘widespread and deeply serious’ failings, and its boss Adam Pawelczyk was banned from having a transport licence for three years.

Two drivers working for Pawelczyk were jailed for creating false records of their driving duties, as they racked up huge amounts of time driving refrigeration trucks all over Britain and Europe without taking the regulation breaks.

Now, the West of England Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney, has disqualified the owner of the chilled food transport firm, which is based near Avonmouth.

Mr Rooney ruled Adam Pawelczyk had ‘lost his good repute’ over the ‘deeply serious failings’, and that employees had made use of his driver card to hide driving over long periods of time – making it appear on the records that two different drivers had been behind the wheel when only one had.

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The most serious were Brzycky and Dabrowski, including a two day period between June 10 and 11, 2015 when Brzycky drove for a total of 34 hours and 43 minutes, including one stint behind the wheel lasting almost 17 hours with no rest at all.

Just a fortnight later, he was on duty for almost 20 hours in one day, and in October of 2015, he was on duty for 46 hours and 26 minutes and only ever had four hours and 41 minutes’ rest at the most in one go.

Tadeusz Dabrowski’s offences were just as bad. On July 6, 2015, he was on duty for 16 hours and 45 minutes in one 24 hour period.

At a public inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner also heard Pawelczyk had used the licence of another firm, called Mike 1 (Bristol) Ltd, to increase his operational capacity. Licences are not transferrable.

The inquiry also heard he didn’t provide any of his accounts, or evidence that his transport manager, Antoni Pawelczyk, had undertaken any of his statutory duties.

“The seriousness of the drivers’ hours matters is illustrated by the prison sentences served by two of his drivers,” said Mr Rooney.

Adam P Transport

“Drivers used Mr Pawelczyk’s digital tachograph card to hide driving over long periods of time and failing to take adequate rest.

“The compliance failings are widespread and deeply serious such that Mr Pawelczyk has lost his good repute.”

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Zoe Murray-Ross, DVSA’s Head of Enforcement, added: “DVSA is committed to protecting you from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

“Driving while tired poses a huge risk and we’ll not hesitate to target those drivers, operators and transport managers who deliberately gamble with people’s lives.

“DVSA will continue to invest in its enforcement staff, technology and sites to help achieve our vision for safer drivers, safer vehicles and safer journeys for all,” she added.

The Traffic Commissioner’s disqualification order against Mr Pawelczyk took immediate effect. His operator’s licence was also revoked on the day of the hearing and the findings will be passed to the Polish authorities where Pawelczyk also operates a haulage business. Antoni Pawelczyk was also disqualified from acting as a transport manager in any member state for a period of three years.

At the same time as the hearing, the Traffic Commissioner refused a new licence application for a new firm called AdamP Transport Ltd, which was registered in Arnos Vale, Bristol, under the directorship of Pawelczyk’s wife Aleksandara.